A Reign of Steel Read Online Free PDF Page B

three rising together in different points of the horizon, one red,
one green, one purple. They flew just above the clouds, which were spread out
beneath him, so close that Thor could touch them, a blanket of color. Thor basked
in the most beautiful sunrise he’d ever seen, different colors of the suns
breaking through the clouds, the rays streaking over him, beneath him, above
him. He felt as if he were flying into the birth of the world.
    Thor
directed Mycoples down, and he felt moist as they went into the cloud cover; momentarily,
his world was awash in different colors, then he was blinded. As they exited
the clouds, Thor expected to see yet another ocean, yet another endless expanse
of nothingness.
    But
this time, there was something else.
    Thor’s
heart raced as he spotted beneath them a sight he’d always hoped to see, a
sight which occupied his dreams. There, far below, a land came into view. It
was an island, swirling in mist, in the midst of this incredible ocean, wide
and deep. His relic vibrated, and he looked down and saw the arrow flashing,
pointing straight down. But he did not even need to see it to know. He felt it,
in every fiber of his being. She was here. His mother. The magical Land of the
Druids existed, and he had arrived.
    Down,
my friend , Thor thought.
    Mycoples
aimed downward, and as they got closer, the island came increasingly into view.
Thor saw endless fields of flowers, remarkably similar to the fields he’d seen in
King’s Court. He could not understand it. The island felt so familiar, almost
as if he had arrived back at home. He had expected the land to be more exotic. It
was strange how uncannily familiar it was. How could it be?
    The
island was encased by a vast beach of sparkling red sand, waves crashing
against it. As they neared, Thor saw something that surprised him: there
appeared to be an entrance to the island, two massive pillars soaring up to the
heavens, the tallest pillars he had ever seen, disappearing into the clouds. A
wall, perhaps twenty feet high, enclosed the entire island, and passing through
these pillars appeared to be the only way to enter on foot.
    Since
he was on Mycoples, Thor decided he didn’t need to go through the pillars. He
would just fly over the wall and land on the island, anywhere he wanted. After
all, he was not on foot.
    Thor
directed Mycoples to fly over the wall, but as she got closer, suddenly, she
surprised him. She screeched and pulled back sharply, raising her talons in the
air until she was nearly vertical. She stopped short, as if slamming into an
invisible shield, and Thor held on for dear life. Thor directed her to keep
flying, but she would not go any farther.
    That’s
when Thor realized: the island was surrounded by some sort of energy shield, one
so powerful that even Mycoples could not pass through. One could not fly over
the wall; one had to pass through the pillars, on foot.
    Thor
directed Mycoples, and they dove down to the red shore. They landed before the
pillars, and Thor tried to direct Mycoples to fly between them, through the
vast gates, to enter with him into the Land of the Druids.
    But
again, Mycoples pulled back, raising her talons.
    I
cannot enter.
    Thor
felt Mycoples’s thoughts race through him. He looked at her, saw her closing
her huge glowing eyes, blinking, and he understood.
    She
was telling him that he would have to enter the Land of the Druids alone.
    Thor
dismounted on the red sand and stood before the pillars, examining them.
    “I
can’t leave you here, my friend,” Thor said. “It is too dangerous for you. If I
must go alone, then I must go. Return to the safety of home. Wait for me there.”
    Mycoples
shook her head and lowered her head to the ground, lying there, resigned.
    I
will wait for you to the ends of the earth.
    Thor
could see that she was determined to stay. He knew she was stubborn, that she
would not budge.
    Thor
leaned forward, stroked Mycoples’s scales on her long nose, leaned over,